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New here from South Texas

Hello, I am new here from South Texas. I currently have a few Henckels Pro S and some other less expensive knives. I am looking for a set. Yes a set and I know I will not use all knives all of the time.

I would like your advise. I just read enough to know most of you are not Henckels fans. I was about to pull the trigger of the zwilling 18 Piece Pro Set. My budget is $1600-$2000.

I do a lot of cooking in either a Primo ceramic grill, or sous vide. We do a lot of chopping and steak cutting and quartering whole chicken. We have a decent looking kitchen and want the knives not only for function but want a nice block set for presentation. Like most I want the most bang for my buck and want a set. I may not need the set but thats what I want.

Would some of you chime in with some recommendations for a nice set? Sorry if this question has been asked to death.

Well, I think you understand that most here don't care for buying sets and wouldn't recommend it, and I am not sure what 'bang for the buck' means in terms of a set (number of knives?). But since you mention set so many times I will stick to your request. I only have a paring knife in this line, but the Miyabi Birchwood knives are attractive, good knives and come in a set -- it will run around $1,200. Different vendors will offer slightly different sets, so look around for which one offers the best knife combo for your usage.

I would allow some of your budget for sharpening supplies as the steel provided won't be the tool for the job.

There is also the Bob Kramer line from SLT. It'll cost more but it is sexy.

k.

EDIT: But I would be remiss to not suggest spending the 2K on individual knives. You could go with the same line of knives to have 'a look' and invest in a nice looking mag strip or block to show them off.

There are members all over TX that would be willing to demo some of their knives assuming you live close enough.

-Sam

Thanks for your reply. I'm in Corpus Christi. From the searches I have done here I figured out that zwilling was not going to be recommended. My sister has a full Cutco set and has been telling me to buy Cutco, but I'm sure many would not recommend them either. I'm doing research now and had actually purchased a full zwilling pro "S" set but the set came with a missing knife and I had to send it back. Thank goodness for me as it appears from the many comments here I would have purchased a substandard set.

I will keep looking on this forum for answers and hope others chime in. Thanks.

I have the Zwilling Kramer 10" chef knife and the paring knife and like both of them. If you require a set, that should work for you. Please know however, that the steel used is 52100 which is a carbon steel that can rust if you leave it out. There is a 7 piece set of stainless zwilling kramer damascus that I haven't tried out but may work for you if you are afraid of carbon knives. If you have an SLT near you, I would go and try them out. They will let you try them in the store to see if you like them. I would recommend doing that. SLT has a very good return policy too.

Also, I would include at least two sharpening stones into that mix. Something in a 1000/5000 or 2000/6000. I wouldn't get the Kramer ones though because it doesn't look like you get much stone for what you pay.